Sunday, July 6, 2025

DDT Network Emerges as Hub for Never Trump Operatives.

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What Happened: Defending Democracy Together (DDT), a Never Trump advocacy group, has expanded into a network of left-leaning political action committees (PACs), policy nonprofits, and media properties, raising at least $151 million since 2018.

👥 Who’s Involved: Former Republicans Bill Kristol and Sarah Longwell, who lead the DDT Network.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C.; network activities and fundraising have been ongoing since 2018.

💬 Key Quote: The New York Times described Kristol as “someone who has probably picked over as many greenroom fruit plates as anyone in Washington.”

⚠️ Impact: The DDT Network resembles a political party infrastructure and has directed significant funds towards opposing President Donald J. Trump and supporting Democratic causes.

IN FULL:

Defending Democracy Together (DDT), a Never Trump advocacy group spearheaded by former Republicans Bill Kristol and Sarah Longwell, has evolved into a substantial network comprising left-leaning political action committees (PACs), policy nonprofits, and media entities. Since its inception in 2018, the network has successfully raised over $151 million, with its financial momentum showing no signs of slowing down. A recent report from the Capital Research Center (CRC) has revealed the Never Trump organization’s vast network of far-left funders and affiliations with a web of anti-Trump political groups.

Kristol, a veteran of Washington politics and staunch neoconservative, serves as the principal officer, while Longwell is the executive director of both Defending Democracy Together and the Defending Democracy Together Institute (DDTI). The duo also oversees the Republican Accountability PAC, a political action committee (PAC).

In 2020, the network’s efforts to defeat President Donald J. Trump were bolstered by a $10,050,000 grant from the Sixteen Thirty Fund, part of the far-left Arabella Advisors dark money network. The network’s financial transparency remains limited, with a significant portion of its backing sourced from anonymous contributions.

Prominent donors to the DDT Network include Democracy Fund Voice, backed by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, and American Future Republic, connected to LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman. These contributions have enabled the network to direct substantial resources towards opposing Trump and supporting Democratic candidates, with Hoffman contributing $9.5 million directly to the Republican Accountability PAC. Other significant donors to the PAC include Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, who has given $6.9 million; John Pritzker, a San Francisco real estate mogul and member of the Pritzker family, who has contributed $3 million; and the leftist daughter-in-law of Rupert Murdoch, Kathryn Murdoch, who gave $2 million.

The DDT Network has also funneled funds into media ventures such as The Bulwark, a Never Trump website, and The Liberal Patriot, a platform that critiques the Democratic Party’s focus on “woke” culture and climate issues. Additionally, the network supports groups like George Conway‘s Society for the Rule of Law (SFL) and the Never Trump group Principles First.

Sarah Longwell’s consulting firm, Longwell Partners, has received over $21 million as a contractor for the DDT Network, suggesting the network also serves as a significant income conduit for its leaders.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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US Marshals Set to Arrest DC Woman for Spitting on Ed Martin During Live Interview.

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What Happened: Ed Martin, President Donald J. Trump’s initial nominee for U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, was spat on by a woman during a Newsmax interview. The U.S. Marshals have identified the woman and plan to arrest her.

👥 Who’s Involved: Acting U.S. Attorney for D.C. Ed Martin, the woman who spat on him, U.S. Marshals, and Daily Caller reporter Vince Coglianese.

📍 Where & When: The incident took place during a Newsmax interview, shortly after Trump’s decision to withdraw Martin’s nomination for a top prosecutor role in Washington, D.C.

💬 Key Quote: “Ed Martin tells me the U.S. Marshals do know who the woman is who spit on him yesterday during a Newsmax appearance,” Vince Coglianese reported.

⚠️ Impact: The footage has gone viral, with many calling for legal action against the woman.

IN FULL:

Ed Martin, President Donald J. Trump‘s initial nominee for a top federal prosecutor position in Washington, D.C., was the target of a spitting assault during an interview on May 9. The woman involved has been identified by the U.S. Marshals, who are preparing to arrest her.

The event unfolded while Martin was speaking with reporters, and the woman, while passing by, angrily identified him by name before spitting on him. She further insulted Martin, calling him a “disgusting man,” while walking her small dog.

The incident quickly gained traction online, with the video being viewed by millions. Many have criticized the woman, labeling her as a “psychotic lib” and a “feral leftist.” There are calls for her to face legal consequences.

“Ed Martin tells me the U.S. Marshals do know who the woman is who spit on him yesterday during a Newsmax appearance,” radio host Vince Coglianese said.

The backdrop to this incident is President Trump’s recent decision to withdraw Martin’s nomination for the federal prosecutor role. This decision came after Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) expressed his unwillingness to support Martin over his handling of January 6 cases. Tillis remarked, “I have no tolerance for anybody that entered the building on January 6, and that’s probably where most of the friction was.” Martin’s interim term as U.S. Attorney expires on May 20.

Following the withdrawal, Trump nominated Judge Jeanine Pirro. Martin will now serve as the Director of the Weaponization Working Group, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and Pardon Attorney in the Justice Department.

Trump praised Martin’s work as interim U.S. Attorney and expressed confidence in his new role, stating that Martin would “provide much needed Justice” for victims of government weaponization under the current administration.

The spitting incident is just the latest act of leftist violence. It comes just days after Antifa militants assaulted people in Seattle with feces and threatened elderly people at a Turning Point USA event.

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With Ed Martin Nomination Stalled, Trump May Name Judge Jeanine as U.S. Attorney for D.C. Instead.

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What Happened: With Ed Martin’s nomination as U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia stalled in the Senate, it is widely speculated that President Donald J. Trump will announce former judge, prosecutor, and Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as his new pick.

👥 Who’s Involved: Current Interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Ed Martin; Fox News host Judge Jeanine Pirro; President Donald J. Trump, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), the U.S. Senate.

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C., May 8, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “He is a terrific person. He wasn’t getting the support from people that I thought,” Trump said of the stalled Martin nomination, adding: “I’m very disappointed in that. But I have so many different things that I’m doing now with the trade [negotiations]. One person, I can only lift that little phone so many times in a day. But we have somebody else that will be great.”

⚠️ Impact: Pirro is seen as a staunch ally of Trump, who, like Martin, will continue to carry out the America First leader’s agenda in the District of Columbia.

IN FULL:

It is believed that President Donald J. Trump will soon tap former judge, prosecutor, and Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as the new Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. The move comes as the push to confirm the current interim prosecutor, Ed Martin, has stalled out in the U.S. Senate after drawing opposition from Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), an establishment figure often accused of catering to the political goals of multinational corporations over Americans.

Earlier on Thursday, after signing a landmark trade deal with the United Kingdom, President Trump addressed the current situation with Martin’s nomination, expressing his frustration with the senators opposing his pick but signaling that the White House would be moving on to another choice. “He is a terrific person. He wasn’t getting the support from people that I thought,” Trump said, adding: “I’m very disappointed in that. But I have so many different things that I’m doing now with the trade [negotiations]. One person, I can only lift that little phone so many times in a day. But we have somebody else that will be great.”

Trump went on to reemphasize that his White House has “somebody else that we’ll be announcing over the next two days who’s gonna be great.”

Jeanine Pirro has been a staunch ally of Trump, even before either was on the national political stage. Notably, Pirro was an early backer of Trump’s successful 2016 presidential bid and served as a quasi-surrogate, pushing back against attacks on him in the media.

Image by Michael IVadon.

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Pope Leo XIV Is a Registered Republican and Cast Ballots in Past GOP Primaries.

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What Happened: U.S. voting data shows that the newly-elected Pope Leo XIV—formerly known as Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, Illinois—is a registered Republican and has voted in a number of Republican primary elections in the past. Additionally, voter modeling suggests he is a conservative Republican voter.

👥 Who’s Involved: Pope Leo XIV.

📍 Where & When: May 8, 2025, the Vatican in Rome, Italy.

💬 Key Quote: Our Turning Point Action team pulled the voting history for Pope Leo XIV. He’s a registered Republican who has voted in Republican primaries when not living abroad,” Turning Point Action’s Charlie Kirk wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He added: “Our data shows he’s a strong Republican, and he’s pro-life.”

⚠️ Impact: While not conclusive as to what the theological and ideological temperament of Pope Leo XIV might be, the data suggests that the new pontiff does represent a break from the more progressive excesses of his predecessor, the late Pope Francis.

IN FULL:

With the election of Chicago-born American Cardinal Robert Prevost to the papacy, taking the name Pope Leo XIV, we can, for the first time, actually know—to an extent—the political voting history of a pontiff in American elections. An American citizen, Pope Leo XIV is a registered member of the Republican Party and cast Republican primary ballots in 2012, 2014, and 2016.

“Our Turning Point Action team pulled the voting history for Pope Leo XIV. He’s a registered Republican who has voted in Republican primaries when not living abroad,” Turning Point Action’s Charlie Kirk wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Our data shows he’s a strong Republican, and he’s pro-life.”

Notably, the new pontiff has also cast ballots in a number of general elections in the United States in both presidential and midterm cycles. Pope Leo XIV voted in all U.S. general elections between 2000 and 2008, casting a ballot again in 2012 and 2014, and in 2018 and 2024. Additionally, according to voter modeling by Turning Point Action, Pope Leo XIV is categorized as having a generally conservative political ideology and a strong Republican partisanship rating.

The election and modeling data may provide hope for some of the more traditionalist factions in the Catholic Church, who want the new pontiff to provide a reprieve from the late Pope Francis‘s more “progressive” papacy. However, it is important to note that outside the modeling, it is unknown which candidates for public office were actually supported by Pope Leo XIV, with more moderate Republicans being just as likely as more conservative candidates.

Throwing some cold water on the idea that Pope Leo XIV may in some ways embody a more American conservative style of Catholicism is his history of criticism of President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance over their immigration policy on social media. The National Pulse reported earlier on Thursday that then-Cardinal Robert Prevost had shared several articles on X attacking both Trump and Vance over their deportation and immigration restriction policies.

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House Democrats Are Begging Pam Bondi Not to Cut DOJ ‘Race Relations’ Office.

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What Happened: House Democrats are urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to preserve the Community Relations Service, a civil rights-era office under threat of closure. The program, ostensibly intended to resolve ethnic tensions, was deployed twice in Minneapolis during the George Floyd riots with little effect.

👥 Who’s Involved: Over two dozen House Democrats, including Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), have reached out to Bondi and the Justice Department (DOJ).

📍 Where & When: The letter was sent on Wednesday, May 7, 2024, with concerns stemming from a Justice Department memo reviewed last month.

💬 Key Quote: “We strongly urge you to abandon any plans of dissolving the work of the Community Relations Service,” wrote the House Democrats.

⚠️ Impact: Supporters contend that closing the office could increase the risk of racial unrest and legal challenges, while detractors contend it can exacerbate racial grievances.

IN FULL:

House Democrats are formally appealing to Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging her to maintain the Community Relations Service, a non-investigative and nonprosecutorial office established under the Department of Justice (DOJ) during the civil rights era. This office, often termed the “peacemakers program,” faces potential closure according to a DOJ memo issued last month.

Created under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Community Relations Service ostensibly aims to mediate and resolve racial and ethnic tensions, conflicts, and civil disturbances, fostering racial harmony and stability. Notably, the office was twice deployed to Minneapolis during the George Floyd riots but appears to have had little impact.

“We are aware that during the previous Trump Administration there was a similar effort to abandon the valuable work of the Community Relations Service by recommending its elimination in budget proposals and reducing staffing,” the letter, spearheaded by Represenative Bobby Scott (D-VA), reads, adding: “We strongly urge you to abandon any plans of dissolving the work of the Community Relations Service.”

While the Community Relations Service, expanded under the 2008 Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act, does not possess law enforcement authority—instead offering confidential and free services to communities—the program received a budget of $24 million in the 2024 fiscal year. Notably, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has recommended the elimination of similar programs at other federal agencies to cut government waste.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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J.D. Vance’s Brother Secures Spot in Cincinnati Mayoral Race.

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What Happened: Cory Bowman, half-brother of Vice President J.D. Vance, advanced to the Cincinnati mayoral general election in November with 13 percent of the vote.

👥 Who’s Involved: Cory Bowman, Aftab Pureval, Brian Frank, J.D. Vance.

📍 Where & When: Cincinnati, Ohio; with the nonpartisan primary occurring on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: Bowman stated, “As I was flying back here from the inauguration, it occurred to me that I could do something to serve the community.”

⚠️ Impact: Bowman will square off against Cincinnati’s incumbent Mayor Aftab Pureval in the Democrat-leaning city during the November 4 election.

IN FULL:

Cory Bowman, the half-brother of Vice President J.D. Vance, has secured a spot in the upcoming general election for Cincinnati‘s mayoral race. Garnering 13 percent of the vote in the recent nonpartisan primary, Bowman, a Republican, will face off against Democratic incumbent Aftab Pureval, who commanded a significant 82.5 percent of the vote. Only the top two vote recipients in the city’s nonpartisan primary advance to the November general election. A second Republican candidate, Brian Frank, was eliminated after receiving just 4.6 percent of the vote.

The city of Cincinnati, known for its Democratic leanings, has not seen a Republican candidate in its mayoral elections since 2009, when former Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) was defeated by Mark Mallory. In the 2024 presidential election, Kamala Harris secured 76 percent of the vote compared to President Donald J. Trump‘s 24 percent. Currently, all nine members of the Cincinnati City Council are Democrats.

Bowman, a pastor at River Church and owner of Kings Arms Coffee Shop, is making his first foray into public office. Inspired after attending the inauguration of President Trump and Vice President Vance, he expressed a desire to serve his community, stating, “As I was flying back here from the inauguration, it occurred to me that I could do something to serve the community.”

While Vice President Vance has not actively campaigned for Bowman, he did offer support via social media, describing Bowman as “a good guy with a heart for serving his community.”

Reacting to the primary results, Bowman acknowledged Pureval’s strong start but remained optimistic about closing the gap, noting, “We’re kind of catching up a little bit.”

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WATCH: Pro-Hamas Antifa Demonstrators Build Barricades, Set Fire to University Campus.

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What Happened: Pro-Hamas student protestors, along with Antifa, occupied a campus building at the University of Washington, setting fire to barricades and attacking police with projectiles. The demonstrators demanded that the university divest itself from Boeing over the company’s relationship with Israel.

👥 Who’s Involved: Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return UW (SUPER UW), Antifa, the University of Washington, Boeing, police.

📍 Where & When: Monday, May 5, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “We’re hoping to remove the influence of Boeing and other manufacturing companies from our educational space, period, and we’re hoping to expose the repressive tactics of the university,” Super UW spokesman Eric Horford said.

⚠️ Impact: Police reports indicate upwards of 32 individuals were arrested and face criminal trespass in the first degree—a gross misdemeanor. None of those arrested have been charged with a felony.

IN FULL:

Pro-Hamas demonstrators, believed to be affiliated with Antifa, took over and occupied a brand new engineering building on the University of Washington campus, building barricades, setting fires, and throwing projectiles at police. The violent display came as far-left groups gathered to protest against Boeing‘s funding of the university and its business arrangements with Israel.

Over two dozen pro-Hamas and Antifa demonstrators were ultimately arrested, with some reports putting the number of arrests as high as 32. The violent campus action was organized by Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return UW (SUPER UW).

“We’re hoping to remove the influence of Boeing and other manufacturing companies from our educational space, period, and we’re hoping to expose the repressive tactics of the university,” Super UW spokesman Eric Horford said in an interview with local media. He added: “We are here to negotiate with the university, and we are hoping they’ll hear us and speak with us.”

Notably, the faction of SUPER UW students appears to have been primarily responsible for the occupation of the engineering building. In contrast, a second faction of individuals clad in black bloc attire and alleged to be affiliated with Antifa were responsible for the fire and the construction of barricades. At one point, a fire that had been set came dangerously close to the campus building.

Following the arrests, police say the demonstrators have been charged with criminal trespass in the first degree—a gross misdemeanor. None of those arrested have been charged with a felony.

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German ‘Conservative’ Merz Becomes Chancellor After Historic Initial Failure.

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What Happened: Friedrich Merz failed to secure enough votes to become Germany’s Chancellor (Prime Minister) on an initial ballot in the German legislature, the first time such an event has occurred since the Second World War. However, he managed to secure sufficient votes after a second attempt.

👥 Who’s Involved: Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU), Social Democrats (SPD).

📍 Where & When: German Bundestag (Parliament), May 6.

💬 Key Quote: “It is an annoying process, but in a parliamentary democracy, in a liberal country, this is unfortunately one of the scenarios that you have to be prepared for,” complained Johann Wadepuhl, Merz’s prospective foreign minister, after he failed to pass the initial ballot.

⚠️ Impact: The failure to elect a chancellor on the first ballot was historic; there was a potential for new elections if a majority had not been reached within 14 days.

IN FULL:

Friedrich Merz, the leader of Germany‘s notionally conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU)—formerly led by Angela Merkel—did not secure enough votes in the Bundestag to become Chancellor in an initial ballot. This marks the first time since World War II that a candidate for Chancellor has failed to win on the initial ballot in the German legislature.

Merz required a majority of 316 votes to succeed but fell short by six votes, obtaining only 310 out of 630. His coalition, which includes the CDU, its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the leftist Social Democrats, holds a slim majority with 328 seats. The secret ballot nature of the vote means it is unclear who within his coalition did not support him, although he managed to push through with 325 votes on his second attempt.

If Merz had not managed to secure a majority within 14 days, the German president, who generally plays a largely ceremonial head of state role in national politics, could have been forced to intervene and either appoint the candidate with the most votes as Chancellor or dissolve parliament, prompting a new national election.

Johann Wadepuhl, set to become Merz’s foreign minister, said of Merz’s initial failure, “It is an annoying process, but in a parliamentary democracy, in a liberal country, this is unfortunately one of the scenarios that you have to be prepared for.”

Meanwhile, Alice Weidel, co-leader of the largest opposition group, Alternative for Germany (AfD), criticized Merz’s coalition—roughly equivalent to a Republican-Democrat alliance—calling it a “weak foundation.” She has urged for Merz’s resignation and the initiation of new elections.

The vote comes less than a week after the German domestic intelligence service declared the AfD a right-wing extremist organization, allowing surveillance measures directed at all party members and the use of informants. The move was met with significant criticism from the Trump administration.

Image by Steffen Prößdorf.

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Romania

Prime Minister Set to Resign Following Conservative Victory.

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What Happened: The Prime Minister of Romania, Marcel Ciolacu, announced his resignation following the first-round victory of conservative nationalist George Simion in the presidential election.

👥 Who’s Involved: Marcel Ciolacu, George Simion, Nicusor Dan, Calin Georgescu.

📍 Where & When: Romania, resignation announced on Monday after Sunday’s election results.

💬 Key Quote: “Despite the obstacles, despite the manipulation, despite a press paid to demean us day after day, Romanians have stood up,” Simion stated.

⚠️ Impact: Romanian government bonds fell, and the political landscape could shift, affecting relationships with the EU and NATO.

IN FULL:

Following the first-round victory of George Simion, leader of the populist Alliance for the Union of Romanians, in Romania’s presidential election, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has resigned. The announcement came in response to the electoral upset. The government will now be led by an interim premier as coalition parties deliberate on Ciolacu’s successor.

Simion, who identifies with a political philosophy akin to President Donald J. Trump’s, secured over 40 percent of the votes, outperforming expectations and increasing his chances of winning the presidency. “Despite the obstacles, despite the manipulation, despite a press paid to demean us day after day, Romanians have stood up,” Simion said following the win.

Simion will face Bucharest’s centrist mayor, Nicusor Dan, in a runoff scheduled for May 18. Simion’s first-round success has dramatically shifted betting market odds in his favor, with his probability of winning the second round now at 69 percent.

This election marks Romania’s second attempt to elect a president after last year’s election was annulled due to alleged Russian interference through TikTok. The unexpected victory of Calin Georgescu, a pro-Trump nationalist and NATO skeptic barred from the current race, previously plunged Romania into a political crisis, leading to widespread protests.

Despite his criticisms of the European Union (EU) and NATO, Simion has reassured that Romania will not exit either organization, emphasizing the importance of both for national security. “Eighty percent of the Romanians want NATO and want the European Union. This is not something we can negotiate,” Simion stated.

As Romania navigates this political transformation, the focus remains on whether Simion can maintain his momentum and secure victory in the upcoming runoff. The outcome could further align Romania with other conservative-populist European countries, such as Hungary and Slovakia.

Image by Jorge Franganillo.

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Nationalist Leads in Romanian Presidential Polls.

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What Happened: George Simion, a nationalist and supporter of President Donald J. Trump, won the first round of Romania’s presidential election redo by a significant margin.

👥 Who’s Involved: George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), and a globalist opponent in the upcoming runoff.

📍 Where & When: Romania, with a runoff election scheduled for May 18.

💬 Key Quote: “For 35 years, the Romanian people lived the lie that we are a democratic country,” Simion said. “And now the people are awakening.”

⚠️ Impact: A Simion presidency could shift Romania’s geopolitical stance within the European Union (EU) and NATO, challenging the status quo.

IN FULL:

George Simion, a nationalist figure and supporter of President Donald J. Trump, has emerged victorious in the first round of Romania’s presidential election redo. The courts canceled the first attempted election, in which NATO skeptic Calin Georgescu won the first round, on the dubious pretext that Russia had influenced voters through TikTok videos. Georgescu was eventually barred from running again in the do-over.

Simion, 38, leads the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), a party known for its right-wing stance. His win comes amid a wave of anti-establishment sentiment sweeping the nation.

Simion’s victory sets the stage for a May 18 runoff against a globalist candidate, a contest that could significantly influence Romania’s future alignment within the European Union (EU) and NATO. The political scene in Romania was shaken last year when the top court annulled the previous election, citing alleged Russian interference, claims that Moscow has denied.

Born in Focsani in 1986, Simion pursued higher education in business and administration, as well as studying communist-era crimes. His activism includes protesting against a Canadian company’s gold mining project and advocating for the reunification with Moldova. In 2019, Simion founded the AUR party, which has grown to become Romania’s second-largest legislative force. The party opposes same-sex marriage and maintains strong ties with the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Simion aligns his party with Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, emphasizing an anti-establishment agenda. During the COVID-19 pandemic, AUR organized protests against vaccination and lockdowns, tapping into public distrust of authorities.

He criticized last year’s canceled election as a “coup d’etat” and vowed to restore democracy and the rule of law. “For 35 years, the Romanian people lived the lie that we are a democratic country,” Simion said.

A potential Simion challenges the political status quo in Europe. Simion insists on a strong NATO presence in Eastern Europe while opposing further military aid to Ukraine. He also advocates for more autonomy for EU member states, aligning with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s views.

Image: AUR Alianța pentru Unirea Românilor.

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